Resilient ventilated shoe



March 21, 1944. w DE K, WYLIE 2,344,762

. RESILIENT VENTILATED SHOE Filed May 22, 1945 Snventor (Ittorneg Patented Mar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to shoes, and particularly to that type of shoe disclosed by my prior Patent No. 2,239,211, granted under date of April 22, 1941.

The shoe disclosed in the aforesaid patent provides means whereby currents of air are caused to move into and out of the sole structure, and into and out of the interior of the shoe through the insole thereof, by the combined actions of the foot and of the shoe in normal walking operations. This ,is accomplished by arranging intercommunicating air ducts or channels in the coacting and contacting faces cf the outer and inner soles, some of which ducts communicate with the atmosphere and others of which are in direct communication with the interior of the shoe. In the shoe of that invention, the outer and inner soles are secured firmly together throughout their entire adjacent faces, which results in a rather hard and stiff support for the foot, at the same time limiting the flexing properties of the shoe. This, obviously, affects the breathing action of the sole.

In the present invention, the soles of the shoe are constructed identically like those of the shoe in the abovementioned patent, but their assembly and arrangement is changed in order to overcome the objections stated. This new construction is set forth fully in the following specification and particularly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a conventional form of shoe equipped with a sole structure in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan View of the sole, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, the outer or wear sole of the shoe is indicated at I 0, while the inner sole is represented at II. These elements may be formed of leather or composition material, and are secured at their outer edges by the usual welt I2. These elements are secured together by stitching, nailing, with cement or in any other preferred manner, and in such manner as to present the appearance of a single thickness.

In preparing the shoe in accordance with the invention, the under face of the inner sole, prior to the application of the outer sole, is provided with a series of longitudinal and lateral grooves or channels I3-I4: the former extending from rpor-tions of the toe part back and into the arch of the sole. These grooves are relatively close together, and are intersected at intervals with openings or ports I5 extending entirely through the insole and into the interior of the shoe. The lateral grooves I4 intersect the longitudinal grooves, and these lateral grooves may also be lin communication with the ports I5 above mentioned. It will be observed that the longitudinal and lateral grooves or channels lit-I4 terminate a substantial distance inwardly from the toe and sides of the inner sole.

The upper face of the outer sole is provided with grooves IB extending longitudinally of the sole, as shown in Fig. 3, as well as grooves or channels I 'I disposed laterally of the sole; the said grooves corresponding substantially with those grooves of the inner sole.

The grooves on the two sole portions are so arranged that air may pass freely therethrough in either direction, and air may equally as freely pass in either direction through the ports I5 of the inner sole.

The laterally disposed channels of theouter sole extend to the edges of the sole, as shown in Figs. l and 3 of the drawing, beneath the welt I2. These channels may or may not be lined by a rm substance such as plastic or light metal, such as a small tube extending from the outer edge to the inner edge of the welt, and if so will aid keeping the channels open under extraordinary pressure at these points. It is apparent from this construction and arrangement that the flexing action of the soles and the muscular movements of the foot within the Shoe in the normal walking operation, will cause air to move into and out of the channels alternately. The same alternate currents of air are, at the same time, caused to flow through the ports I5 in the insole.

To aid in this breathing action of the shoe, and to materially improve the comfort of the shoe, a plurality of cushioning members or elements Il are interposed between the soles I0 and Il. These elements may be made of rubber or other compressible or displaceable material, sponge rubber being used in the present instance. These members are preferably made in substantially rectangular shape and of a size to be properly accommodated in the spaces between the 1ongitudinal and lateral channels of the soles. They are preferable cemented to the under face of the insole and may or may not be attached to the adjacent face of the outer sole. It will be observed that the sides of the elements I1 are inclined or beveled, to insure being displaceable into the air passages when subjected to the weight of the wearer. The side walls may be straight, however, if the elements are spaced inwardly from the channels a distance to insure against closing the channels to the passage of air currents whenthe shoe is applied to the foot.

It is obvious from this construction and arrangement that the muscular action of the foot, as well the exing action of the soles, Will cause air to be "pumped into and out of the shoe. This action is materially enhanced by interposing the resilient elements l1 between the soles, and these cushioning members are of considerable importance with respect to the comfort of the shoe, as a leather sole shoe of the type shown will have the virtues of a rubber sole shoe Without the disadvantages of the latter.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a shoe, an out sole and an inner sole, the inner s ole having continuous unobstructed grooves in its under face extending longitudinally from the toe portion thereof throughout the arch, said face of said inner sole also having lateral grooves communicating with said longitudinal grooves, the longitudinal and lateral grooves of said inner sole having ports extending laterally therethrough and communicating with the interior of the shoe, said outer sole having its upper face provided with longitudinal and lateral grooves, the said'lateral grooves extending to the lateral edge of said out sole, a welt securing said out and in soles and holding said soles in sealed relationship, and resilient elements arranged in spaced relation between said out and insoles and normally maintaining the same yieldably spaced apart.

WILLIAM DE K. WYLIE. 

